Class Year: 1960

Jerry Hamelink ’62

Jerry H. Hamelink, 83, of Holland, Michigan, was born on March 16, 1940, and passed away on October 15, 2023. Jerry attended Holland High School, Hope College, Michigan Technical University, Brigham Young University, and West Virginia University. He worked for a chicken hatchery in Holland, Consumers Power in Jackson, Upjohn in Kalamazoo, and Western Michigan… Continue Reading →

Judith DeRyke ’63 Dunn

On Sunday August 13, 2023, Judith (“Judy”) Kay Dunn passed peacefully at age 82 from sarcoma cancer. She is survived by her four children John (Deb), Ann Marie ’92, Mark  ’96 (Chanda), Steve ’96 (Tara ’96), and her grandchildren: Madison, Courtney ’21 (Jack Hamilton), Jack, Lauren, Jake, Tommy, Ava, Steve and Nick. A memorial service… Continue Reading →

Robert Stoel ’63

After July 1, 2023, the world grew a little quieter and heaven filled with the boisterous greetings of Robert (Bob) Stoel who was reunited with his parents (Herman and Maggie) and his son Brent, who died shortly after birth. Bob was born April 10, 1940 and grew up on the northside of Holland ice-fishing in… Continue Reading →

Paul Swets ’63

Paul W. Swets, son of William A. and Ethel Leestma Swets, was born on April 2, 1941 and died on July 14, 2023. He is survived by his one and only beautiful wife and best friend, Janiece Sue Smoll Swets ’65, and his extraordinary family (he wrote this 🙂 son, Judson Paul Swets married to… Continue Reading →

Thomas Ewart ’64

Thomas (Tom) W. Ewart passed away on July 29, 2023, at his home. He was 81. A celebration of life will be held at Holy Trinity Church, in Nevada City on Saturday, August 19 at 10 am. A reception will follow at the church. Tom was born April 21,1942 to Roswell H. Ewart and Nelle… Continue Reading →

Barbara Fisher ’64 Happel

Barbara Rae Happel, age 81 of Spring Lake, passed away on Sunday, October 22, 2023, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. She was born on March 16, 1942, in Grand Haven, Michigan, to the late Ray and Willamen (Nyland) Fisher. Barb married Thomas Happel on July 19, 1997, in Grand Haven. He preceded her in death on December… Continue Reading →

Lee Gerard ’65

Lee Kirk Gerard, of Okemos, Michigan, died on October 4, 2023, at the age of 81. His battle with Parkinson’s Disease in recent years showed his courage in facing life’s challenges with a smile. He was born in Clare, Michigan, on February 6,1942, to Frederick and Virginia Gerard of Muskegon, Michigan. Lee was devoted to… Continue Reading →

Gary Teall ’65

Gary Alan Teall, age 79, passed away on Tuesday, July 4 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was truly loved and will be dearly missed by his family, including his wife of 53 years, Elaine Teall, son Eric Teall (Jenni), daughter Maggie Teall (Mark Beaver), daughter Kathy Teall (Nick Vartanian), his 8 grandchildren:… Continue Reading →

James Lemmerz Jr. ’66

James Eveland Lemmerz passed away on Monday, October 2nd after many years suffering from different complications of Agent Orange. God ended his pain and confusion with his family and friends by his side. Jim was proceeded in death by father James, mother Helen, brother Russel and sister Libby and is survived by his wife Sherry… Continue Reading →

Jeffrey Waldron ’66

Jeffrey Lynn Waldron, 78, was born on May 29, 1943 in Canton, Illinois. He recently passed away on November 12. A celebration of Jeff’s life will be held at First Baptist Church of Redlands on Saturday, December 2 at 2:00 PM. Jeff attended school at Hope College. He worked for the General Accounting Office and… Continue Reading →

Dennis Wegner ’66

Dennis L. Wegner, 79, of Ottumwa, died October 16, 2023 at Vista Woods Care Center. He was born March 18, 1944 in Kalamazoo, MI to Harold and Wilma Kwekeboom Wegner. He married Carole Aardsma and to this union 2 sons were born, Lorin and Darryl. He married Saundra JoAnn Swanson Anderson in 1994. Dennis earned… Continue Reading →

Calvin Boer ’67

Calvin Paul Boer, age 79 of Holland, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at home. Cal was born in Holland September 18, 1944 to Peter and Amy (Kuipers) Boer and was a lifelong resident of the area. A graduate of Holland Christian High School, Cal would continue his studies at Hope College, earning a… Continue Reading →

Adrian Slikkers Jr. ’67

Adrian George Slikkers Jr., 77, of Portage, passed away July 16, 2023 at his home. A Celebration of Life Service will take place at a later date with burial to take place at Lakeview Cemetery, South Haven. Adrian was born Aug. 3, 1945 in Holland to Adrian George Slikkers, Sr. and Elizabeth (Boer) Slikkers. On… Continue Reading →

Ronald Giermann ’69

Ronald William Giermann of North Fort Myers, Florida passed away on Sunday July 2, 2023 while under the care of Hope Hospice House in Cape Coral, Florida. Ron was born in Chicago on March 21, 1947 and lived with his family in Riverdale, Illinois. He graduated from Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois in… Continue Reading →

Lucy Wang ’69 Lee

Lucy, our youngest, therefore, the most loved of our siblings, was born April 13, 1948 in Gulangyu, Xiamen, Fujian Province (福建省廈門市鼓浪嶼)in China shortly after the brutal Sino-Japanese War, 1937-1945, and World War II, 1941-45. Our oldest sister, Mary Wang Ling-yee Chen, and I were born before WW II, respectively in 1937 and 1938, and our… Continue Reading →

Mary Klein ’64 Kansfield

Mary Klein ’64 Kansfield has written stories of three generations of RCA church women which are captured in a new book titled A Culture of Our Own: Three Generations of Midwestern Dutch Women. Continue Reading →

Nelson Murphy ’68

Nelson Murphy ’68 came out of retirement for the fourth time last year and accepted a call to serve part-time as the pastor of Tinicum United Church of Christ in Pipersville, Pennsylvania, not far from where he and his wife, Sandie, now live in Yardley. Continue Reading →

Carl De Jong ’60

Carl Jason De Jong was born Feb. 21, 1938, to Wilbur James De Jong and Jeanette (DenHerder) De Jong in Maurice, Iowa. The first of six siblings, he worked hard on the farm, waking early for chores. As a boy he was studious and loved playing basketball. After graduating from high school in Maurice, he attended Northwestern Junior Academy for an Associate’s Degree, and… Continue Reading →

Judith Dorn ’62 Balfoort

Judith Mary (nèe Dorn) Balfoort, passed from this world to her heavenly home on Friday, January 19, 2024. Judith was born in Holland Michigan, on May 29, 1940, to Harold and Evelyn Dorn. She graduated from Holland High School, attended Hope College and Grand Rapids Junior College where she acquired an LPN degree in nursing. During… Continue Reading →